KOMTAR, Skyscraper in George Town, Malaysia

KOMTAR is a cylindrical tower in George Town with 65 floors rising about 249 meters into the skyline. The building combines government offices, retail stores, and dining venues all within one large complex.

Proposed by chief minister Lim Chong Eu in 1969 and designed by his brother Lim Chong Keat, KOMTAR was built between 1974 and 1986 at a cost of RM279.5 million. Its tower opened on 2 December 1976 and was completed in 1985 at 231.7 metres, then the tallest skyscraper in Southeast Asia. Renovations in 2015 raised it to 248.7 metres.

The complex is named after Abdul Razak Hussein, Malaysia's second prime minister, and its Malay name is Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak. The site was formerly Sia Boey, the "end of the village" where the Prangin Canal marked George Town's old boundary; a market stood here from 1806, and an iron market hall served it from the 1880s until 2004.

The Rainbow Skywalk sits on the 68th floor, reached by lifts from the podium, and the complex doubles as the main Rapid Penang bus terminal. The 27-acre superblock links the tower to Prangin Mall and 1st Avenue, so allow time to cross between them on foot.

The building houses the Penang State Gallery and a Durian Gallery, spaces that showcase local heritage and culture. These galleries are often overlooked by visitors, even though they offer interesting insights into the region.